The FirstEnergy Foundation has granted Gifts of the Season totaling $60,000 to four nonprofits that are working to make lives better in Ohio communities served by Ohio Edison, The Illuminating Company (CEI) and Toledo Edison.

“We’re proud to support these organizations because their missions align with our commitment to diverse, equitable and inclusive communities where everyone feels safe, valued, included and respected,” said Torrence Hinton, President, Ohio. “The recipients were chosen by External Affairs employees who identified organizations in their local areas that do extraordinary work to strengthen the community and enhance the lives of vulnerable and underserved populations.”

The recipients of this year’s gifts include the following 501(c)(3) organizations:

• Project Woman, Springfield and Clark counties ($10,000): Located within Ohio Edison’s service territory, this nonprofit helps survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault by providing safe shelter and trauma-informed services.
• D.R. Services, Inc., Ashland County ($10,000): Located within Ohio Edison’s service territory, this organization assists and trains people with disabilities to experience a dynamic life of their choice and a future of their dreams.
• Catholic Charities, Lake County ($20,000): Located within CEI’s service territory, Catholic Charities’ Hispanic Outreach Program will use this grant funding to provide human services in Spanish to Hispanic individuals and families in Lake County.
• Sofia Quintero Arts & Cultural Center, Lucas County ($20,000): Located within Toledo Edison’s service territory, this organization promotes Hispanic culture in the community through art, dance, gardening and cooking programs.

About Gifts of the Season

The Gifts of the Season initiative was created in 2016 to support programs and nonprofit organizations that align with FirstEnergy’s core value of diversity, equity and inclusion. Since its inception, the campaign has awarded about $1.1 million to nonprofit organizations that work to strengthen communities through a diverse lens.

To be considered for a gift, the entity must be a first-time FirstEnergy Foundation grant recipient, and the entity or at least 51% of its work must fall under one or more of the following diverse categories:

• Service disabled/veteran-owned business enterprise
• Disability-owned business enterprise
• Minority business enterprise
• Lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender/queer-owned business
• Woman business enterprise